The big Country Awards show FOX has been airing the past few years is moving to the spring, and in its place this December will go a Top 10 countdown show recapping the biggest country music stories of 2015. Carrie Underwood is one of the featured artists. From the FOX press release:
American Country Countdown’s Top 10 Stories of 2015 airs Thursday, Dec. 17 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. The one-hour special will count down country music’s Top 10 defining and most talked-about moments of the year. Featuring in-depth interviews with the genre’s headline makers, video highlights and performances by country music’s hottest artists, the special will include appearances by Jason Aldean, Kix Brooks, Luke Bryan, Florida Georgia Line, Sam Hunt, Little Big Town, Shania Twain and Carrie Underwood. Additional talent, performers and host to be announced.
Country music has become one of the biggest influences in music and popular culture in the United States and continues to grow internationally. This companion special to the upcoming American Country Countdown Awards airing in Spring 2016, also will honor The Grand Ole Opry’s 90th Anniversary. The iconic show continues to connect generations of fans with the new stars, superstars, and legends of country music on the famed Opry stage.
American Country Countdown Awards is based on country music’s longest-running radio countdown show, American Country Countdown with Kix Brooks, and honors country music’s biggest stars based on album sales and radio airplay.
The format of the awards show, based on radio play, began last year. Not a big ratings grabber for FOX in December, the strategy must be moving it to awards season will attract more viewers? It’s an already crowded field, so good luck with that. A top 10 show in December, however, does seem to be more logical programming.